Rail-joint.



Patented Dec. 2, |902.

' (No Model.)

WTNESSES' a/m UNTTED STATES PATENT Crimen.

CARL OTTO HENRY MILLER, OF WILLIAMSPOR'I, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,110, dated December2, 1902.

Application iiled September 22, 1902. Serial No. 124,349. (No model Toall whom .it may concern.' f

Be it known that I, CARL OTTO HENRY MIL- LER, residing at Williamsport,in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

My invention relates to railroad-rail joints, and has for its object toprovide an improved joint of that character such as will lessen, if notentirely obviate, all jarring of passengers caused by hammering of theear-wheels as they roll from rail to rail across the spaced ends thereofwith joints as heretofore commonly formed.

The invention consists in novel arrangement of parts and special detailsof construction, which I will now proceed to describe in detail.

For a full understanding of my invention reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved joint with theends of the rails in normal position; and Fig. 2 is asimilar view withthe ends of the two rails shown spaced apart, illustrating the peculiarconstruction involved.

In carrying out my invention I form a V- shaped recessA in the head ofone rail at the end thereof and a similar or V-shaped tongue orprojection B from the head of the next rail, substantially as shown inFig. 2 of my drawings. The side walls of the recess A are provided withgrooves C, and the side Walls of the tongue or projection B have ribs D,adapted to enter and in shape corresponding to the grooves C in therecess A. It will be noticed that the recess A and the tongue B areformed leaving shoulders E, which abut when two ends of the rails cometogether.

With the ends ot' the rails joined as invented by me it is apparent thatthe tongue B will provide a permanent bridge at the meetingv ends of tworails and in addition a smooth and practically unbroken wheelsu pport atthe rail-joints. Increased advantage resides in the use of the grooves Cand the ribs D, since when a joint isbeing formed they serve as guides,insuring proper alinement of the rails and when the joint is formed lockthe tongue extension B against vertical movement, and the latter restingin the recess A will hold the end of that rail down upon the cross-ties.ln fact, both rails are securely locked against either upward ordownward movement.

In laying the rails the ends thereof should be spaced apart or placedclose together, according to whether it be summer or Winter at thattime, and thereby allow for the obvious expansion or contraction of therail due to heat or cold effects Well understood.

I would have it understood that my invention comprehends providing eachrail with a recess A at one end and a tongue B at its other end alsothat one rail may have recesses, such as A, at both ends and the nextwith tongues or projections B at both of its ends. In providingalternate rails, one with recesses at both ends and the other rail withtongues at both ends, obviously one or more sections of rail may betaken up and turned end for end to provide new wearing-surface.

My invention affords further advantage in rendering the use of lesscross-ties for proper support to the rails and does not requiresplice-bars or other fastening means than the common spikes used forsecuring rails upon the crossties.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A rail-joint employing a V-shaped recess in the end of one rail, anda like-shaped projection from the end of the adjoining rail, independentmeans within the said recess and forming a part of the said projectionwhereby either rail is prevented from upward or downward movement,substantially as described.

2. A rail-joint employinga V-shaped recess in the head of one rail and alike-shaped projection from the head of the adjoining rail, the saidrecess and projection being formed leaving shoulders on both sidesthereof and adapted to prevent either rail from upward or downwardmovement and at the same time provide a smooth unbroken upper Surfaceconnection between the ends of the two rails, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination in a rail-joint of a V- shaped recess in the head ofone rail, a like- IOO shaped projection from the head ofthe adjoiningrail, grooves in the side Walls of the said recess, and ribs on the sideWalls of the said projection adapted to enter the said grooves andtogether provide guides adapted to insure proper alinement and a smoothupper surface to the rails, substantially as described.

4. In combination, a recess in the rail-head at opposite ends thereof,a, like-shaped proxo I jection at opposite ends of the adjoining rail,grooves in the side Walls of each recess, and ribs on the side Wallsofeach projection, substantiaily as described.

CARL OTTO HENRY MILLER. Witnesses:

ROBERT GILMORE, HUGH GILMORE.

